Matsuya Family Residence Daizugura: A Bean Storehouse with a Striking Striped Wall
Beans and other pulses were among the goods the Matsuya family traded in Furukawa, in what is now Ōsaki City, and the daizugura, the bean storehouse, held that part of their stock. It stands on the western edge of the compound, just north of the sugar storehouse and sharing its north-south alignment. Built in the middle Meiji period, between 1883 and 1897, it is one of eight structures on the property listed as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties.
Unlike the family's earthen-walled dozō storehouses, the daizugura is a single-story wooden building, roofed in steel plate, with a floor area of about 41 square meters. Its interest lies almost entirely in the treatment of its walls, which set it apart from any other building in the compound.
Why the Storehouse Matters
The daizugura was placed on the national register on 4 August 2015, together with the other Matsuya buildings, under the criterion for structures that contribute to the historic landscape. Its exterior is built around a rhythm of closely spaced pillars, with white lime plaster packed into the gaps between them. The result is a strong vertical striping, like a lattice worked in timber and plaster, that catches the eye from across the yard.
This is an unusual choice. Most storehouses hide their frame behind a smooth plaster skin. Here the frame is left to read on the surface, turning structure into pattern.
What to Look For
Raise your eyes to the gable end. Rather than close it off, the builders let the layered beams and short struts show, arranging them so the structural members double as ornament. The stacked timbers make a composition in their own right, a frank display of how the building is put together.
Look too at the attached eave, the tsukebisashi, where the patterned arm brackets and the supporting mochiokuri brackets are handled with real care. For a plain wooden storehouse, the level of thought given to these joints is notable. The daizugura is part of a private residence and is not open to the public, but its striped wall and exposed gable are among the most photogenic sights readable from the surrounding streets.
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Q&A
- What was the Daizugura used for?
- It stored beans and pulses, part of the food goods the Matsuya family traded. The name means bean storehouse.
- Why does the wall look striped?
- Closely spaced pillars are left visible, with white plaster filling the spaces between them. This produces a vertical lattice-like contrast, unusual for a storehouse and distinctive within the compound.
- How does it differ from the other storehouses?
- It is a single-story wooden building, not an earthen-walled dozō like the sugar and document storehouses. Its structural frame is shown on the surface rather than hidden.
- Can it be visited?
- No. It is part of a private residence and is not open to the public. Its exterior can be seen from the surrounding streets.
Basic Information
| Name | Matsuya Family Residence Daizugura (Matsuyake Jūtaku Daizugura) |
|---|---|
| Location | 15-1 Nanukamachi, Furukawa, Ōsaki City, Miyagi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (registered 4 August 2015) |
| Registration No. | 04-0107 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Structure | Wooden, single story, steel-plate roof; building area approx. 41 m² |
| Period | Mid-Meiji (1883–1897); remodeled 1978 and 2014 |
| Access | Private residence, not open to the public |
References
- National Database of Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs — Matsuyake Jūtaku Daizugura
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010545
- Ōsaki City — Nationally Registered Cultural Properties
- https://www.city.osaki.miyagi.jp/shisei/soshikikarasagasu/kyoikuiinkaijimukyoku/bunkazaika/4/1/3402.html
- Matsuya Family Residence — Wikipedia (Japanese)
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/松谷家住宅
Last verified: 2026.07.02